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In the spirit of #GivingTuesday, we would like to thank everyone who gives to The Princess Shop throughout the entire year, whether that is a dress, sponsorship, cash donation, office supplies, volunteer time, word-of-mouth recommendations, or even by engaging with our social media. It all makes a positive impact. Please get in touch if you'd like to contribute in your very own way.

We are proud to have grown BEYOND the dress and graduation day to so much more. We address needs in the community for further success and pursuit of goals through mentorship, scholarships, housing, financial literacy, work readiness, and wellness literacy. We wouldn't have got here without your support.

The trees are already looking bare, we have a couple of snowy days under our belts, and grad season seems like a lifetime ago. All the same, we would like to take some time and reflect on our 2018 Princess Graduates. They are strong, they are intelligent, they are brave, and they are GRADUATED. Here at The Princess Shop, we feel a sense of pride when we send out the dresses on grad days. Each dress belongs to a girl who has reached a truly special milestone and each girl has had her own journey. We celebrate each journey and congratulate each achievement.

This past grad season was a truly remarkable one. What made it particularly special was that it could not have been possible without the support of our community. We had volunteers help mend dresses, volunteers assist in appointments, businesses that donated funds, hair services given, make-up services given, photography services given, and dresses donated. All this to say, The Princess Shop had been able to give back because so much has been given through the support of our community. Thank-You.

One of the most breathtaking moments of grad season is when a graduate chooses her dress. Whether it’s sleek and low profile or jeweled and dramatic, each dress represents celebration. It represents a unique story, a unique style, and an exciting beginning. The celebration begins when the Princess Graduate comes to pick out a dress. Sometimes there is excitement in her eyes, sometimes fear. Excitement because she is planning to go all out, fear because she has never worn a dress and maybe it won’t look good on her. Nothing replaces the look in her eyes when she has found the dress. She is no longer fearful because she KNOWS she looks beautiful in the dress.

This year we had 140 dress appointments, 140 looks of nervous excitement, 140 success stories that represented 18 different Saskatchewan communities, and 140 Princess Graduates who have celebrated their achievements (in style). 140 represents the number of dresses that were worn to graduation celebrations this year but The Princess Shop is more than dresses. This year, our graduates received $32,000 of scholarships. They worked hard and are now off on new adventures. We also have new graduates connecting to mentors, connecting to community. 140 represents the number of dream chasers and hard workers.

Although back the school rush has faded, the pumpkin spice craze is upon us, and grad season seems like a lifetime ago, we want to say a special thank-you to our 2018 Princess Graduates. Thank-you for allowing us to be a part of your day. Thank-you for allowing us to sit next to you while you flashed looks of delight in that mirror when you saw how beautiful you looked. Thank-you.

ps. You can be a part of this impact, too! Click here for more information on how to get involved.

Don't have much time to join our volunteer team as a coordinator? No problem. While we are looking for the right people to fill those important roles, we also thrive from the additional support we receive through various ways that don't require year-round commitment.

#1 Follow us on Social Media We mean actually following the page and sharing our posts and engaging with them (liking and commenting). This keeps us relevant in the feed and raises awareness of our successes and programs. Maybe you'll be the connection between us and a new sponsor or volunteer? Who knows?

#2 Join our Helping Hands listThis is a casual volunteer opportunity and the commitment is when you choose it to be! Those on our Helping Hands list receive emails when we are seeking help. Those who can, sign up; those who cannot, continue with their day as if nothing happened. No stress! Options range from Glass Slipper event help to Dress Appointment support. Email us with your contact information if you're interested! Contact us to put your name and email on this list.

#3 Coming Forward with a Special Skill You'd Like to ContributeDo you enjoy sewing? There are plenty of small sewing jobs on dresses that range from beginner to expert. We have sewing supplies here so you can just come on in during our office hours and repair some dresses! Other ideas are running errands for us such as picking up donations from our donation partners, or coming forward with a fundraising idea!

#4 Attend an Event (and Bring All Your Friends)As a small nonprofit organization doing big things in our community, we really rely on support from all angles. We do our own fundraising throughout the year, and would love to have you attend one of our many amazing events throughout the year (hint: Save the Date for April 10th - Glass Slipper Benefit).

#5 Join our Core Volunteer TeamOkay - so we have to add this option in just in case! Are you ready to jump in and be a part of the decision-making and direct impact? Check out our volunteer positions currently open by clicking here. Being a part of the core team provides so much benefit such as a new perspective, practicing real interpersonal and professional skills, enhancing your creative brainstorming, and seeing your ideas come to life because we can!

Stepping into the role of Volunteer Representative is not what you would expect, or at least in comparison to my own previous volunteer experience, not what I expected.

It's been more than - and better than - I envisioned. Every week I attend a weekly meeting with a group of successful and motivating women. We're surrounded by beautiful donated gowns, shoes and accessories. We brainstorm, goal set, get off track for a moment and laugh, and are constantly re-evaluating every aspect of the organization to ensure we have a positive impact on not only our Princess Graduates but our community as whole. By the end of the meeting, were assigned chosen tasks to meet our goals and out into the community we go. We fundraise, network with donors and sponsors and build lasting relationships.

While this is happening, me and other Volunteer Representatives along with individuals from our list of 'Helping Hands', conduct dress appointments which is by far, one of the most fulfilling duties. We simply consult with the graduate about her wants and needs for grad day and beyond. We outline the different programs The Princess Shop offers and ultimately attempt to be the bridge between adversity and prosperity. Once graduation season arrives, it's a whirlwind of wearing many different hats. We go from being a graduate's personal assistant to being a team player of the salons were in and out of.

Every so often, were pulled aside by a graduate who feels graduation and everything that comes with this major achievement, would not be possible without the organization. Rather it was through lending her a dress, providing her with a scholarship or simply being a mentor in her life, we've alleviated hardship in more ways than one. We're thanked and told that we should be proud of the work we do. And when the graduates acknowledge our work and display appreciation for all that we do, it is only a bonus. Because I can tell you, that is not why myself or our team, volunteer for The Princess Shop.

I volunteer because of everything I just shared with you. Though it is only a glimpse of the expectations and experiences that come with the position. If you read between the lines, it's quite easy to recognize that this organization pushes you to become better for yourself and the community. It's a doorway to seeing what community means and what our community offers. It's a way to feel empowered through empowering other women. It further develops various life skills that one utilizes in their everyday life. Skills such as Communication and Leadership skills. And it overall provides you with an experience that changes your life while changing others' lives.

Chelsey is one of a group of amazing individuals who make The Princess Shop a magical place through their passion and dedication. Does this sound like your kind of crew? We are looking to fill some more roles and would love to have you if this post spoke to you. Click here!

Volunteering at The Princess Shop provides so many life-changing opportunities for individuals – and we aren’t just talking about the 1,000+ at-risk women we have impacted on graduation day and beyond with our additional programming offering mentorship or scholarships… but the volunteers!

At The Princess Shop, our volunteers aren’t here to just do menial tasks (okay, about twice a year they will stuff envelopes), they are here to create the impact. This comes in many forms throughout the seasons of a year, but where it is truly special is through the opportunity to not just be a part of the impact, but create the impact through building opportunities, solving problems, an generating new ideas and goals.

There are so many benefits to volunteering at The Princess Shop, but here are a few key highlights:

1-Positive Team Culture – this is our secret weapon. We are all in this together to create the impact. Everyone’s ideas are welcomed to the table. In addition, this means no one is ever alone. We work as a team to complete tasks and keep the momentum moving forward.

2-Empower – through our positive team culture, volunteers at The Princess Shop become empowered to bring ideas to the table that will change lives. For example, Jasmine, our Next Chapter Program Coordinator, thought of the idea for a housing scholarship to assist with living costs for a Princess Graduate attending post-secondary schooling. The result? A full year free rent with Boardwalk. This idea emerged in autumn of 2017, and our first recipient of this scholarship got the keys to her new home August 2018.

3-Creativity – as a small nonprofit organization, we have the power to make our decisions to best suit the organization. This means we get to exercise our creativity skillsets when it comes to problem solving and idea generation.

4-Learning – interpersonal and professional skills are a major takeaway for volunteer team members. Part of this comes from confidence built through our positive team culture and putting into practice skills that make real-life results.

5-Fulfillment – again, being a direct impact on the lives of at-risk students as they prepare for graduation, post-secondary, career, and life goals, comes with direct fulfillment. We are so proud of our Princess Graduates when they reach that graduation day milestone, get accepted into post-secondary, or get a great job. We help motivate them at their dress appointments by sharing with them all of the opportunities to continue to be a part of The Princess Shop community.

As we come to the peak of our 2018 graduation season and look forward to supporting our graduates in their next transitions through scholarship support and mentorship, we decided it would be important to hear from one of our Fairy Godmothers to share her experiences as a mentor in the Fairy Godmother Program.

Kayla Brien has a rich history with The Princess Shop. Starting with helping out for the Glass Slipper Benefit, to coordinating the Fairy Godmother Program, to becoming a Fairy Godmother and Board Member...

1) What made you want to become a Fairy Godmother (mentor)?

Effective mentorship relationships enrich both people. Personally I wanted to dedicate time to getting to know a Princess Graduate, becoming a friend she could trust and to support her in her achieving her goals after graduation. On the flip side, I was also very excited about the prospect of having my eyes opened to new experiences and to learn new things from someone I may have never had the opportunity to engage with.

2) Why do you think it is important to mentor women at this stage of their life?

I have been very fortunate to have a strong network of support through the critical time in my life following graduation. This has played a large role in my personal growth knowing that I have champions in my corner ready to encourage me and help me navigate through the obstacles and roadblocks that show up in life. Every woman deserves that same level of support and encouragement, and I was excited about the idea of being able to provide that for a young woman.

3) What surprised you throughout your experiences being a mentor?

After I hang out with Zoya, I always feel very inspired and uplifted. Although she has endured struggles in her life, she is always upbeat and positive and sees the light at the end of the tunnel. She has changed my outlook on life in a very positive and transformative way.

4) What are a few key things you've learned by being a mentor?

Listening is so important. When you are actively listening you are establishing trust and respect in the relationship. Being present and engaged in your conversations allows for a person to feel truly heard and that they are valued.

Have fun! Discover activities you like to do together and try new things! As important as it is to provide solid advice and guidance to a young woman, it is equally as important to share in positive experiences together.

5) What do you love most about your mentee?

I feel so fortunate for the friendship that has developed between Zoya and I. I have had the opportunity to participate in some of the most precious milestones of her life since I have met her; I attended her families citizenship ceremony, watched her cross the stage as a university graduate and grow from a shy, soft spoken young lady, to a confident, driven and fierce young women. I love that I have been able to witness this growth and to be part of her journey.

6) Mentorship is a two-way street, so what benefits have you seen for yourself?

Mentoring allows you to bring out and develop key strengths in each other. I have had the opportunity to support and encourage my Princess Graduate to help her achieve her goals. However, in return, the experience has strengthened my leadership skills and my ability to communicate. My Princess Graduate comes to me to discuss a lot of big decisions in her life and I want to be able to help her make informed and confident decisions.

7) What advice would you have for anyone looking to become a mentor for the first time?

Determine expectations and needs early on. Ask questions and be actively listening. The Princess Graduate has signed up to be in the program for a reason so take the time to really get to know her and about what peaked her interest in being in the program. It helps strengthen the connection early on and establish trust.

-end interview-

Thank you, Kayla! Your reflections are so appreciated and Zoya is lucky to have you in her life (and vice versa, as we have learned).

For anyone wishing for a meaningful mentorship experience, please apply as soon as you can and we would love to match you up!

Not every mentorship match really has to match like Kayla and Zoya, but they sure make it fun! Here is a picture of Kayla supporting Zoya at our annual BBQ where Zoya won a scholarship! Photo by Joi Photography

The Glass Slipper Benefit had a first in all of the years prior. It came from a dream Executive Director Karen Robson had last summer, to hold a Live Auction Scholarship at the Glass Slipper Benefit... an opportunity for the attendees to create a scholarship for a Princess Graduate who will be attending post-secondary education in the fall. We expected our guests would enjoy the opportunity, but we were taken aback by the generosity in the room. Not only did our guests surpass our expectations with one scholarship, but three women from the audience each committed to scholarships of $3,200, $3,100, and $3,000 - totaling $9,300 in scholarship funds that will go to three Princess Graduates this fall. Dreams do come true at The Princess Shop!

WOW! Our hearts are touched.

A lot of work and donations go into the event, as well. The Princess Shop would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and appreciation to all of the following sponsors for their generous support of the 11th Annual Glass Slipper Benefit for Princesses:

306 Auto spa

A Head of Time

Ambassador Coffee

Aboriginal People's Television Network

Beverly Ashdown

Bills House of Flowers

BioMechanics Personal Training

Black Fox Distillery

Blossoms Living

Bodega Tapas Bar

Breakout Escape Rooms

Breathe Cycle Studio

Bridge City Fitness

Broadway Theatre

Build-A-Bear (Midtown)

CAK.e hair design

Calistaprints

Calories Restaurant

Capelli Salon

Catherine Blackburn Jewelry

Checks 'N' Balances Business Services

Cindy Moleski Photography

Citizen Cafe

Cravings Maternity & Baby Boutique

d3h Hotels - Home Inn & Suites

Darren Hill, City Councillor

Delta Bessborough

Dino Box

DJ Conrad Devine

Dragon's Den

Dutch Growers

Eb's Source of Adventure

Edible Arrangements

Ehjae Chan Photography

elizabethLyn Jewelry

Elk Ridge

Ellen's Whole Body Health

Endearment Imagery

Ensoul Imagery

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Exquisite Fashions & Bridal

Fit Prairie Girl

Float Now

Fragment Media Photograpy and Videography

Fresh Living

Gerald Murray Photography

Globe Theatre

Green Tree Beauty

Gregg Bamford - Remax

Grip It Indoor Climbing

Handy Special Events

Hawood Inn

Heavenly Handmade by Kendal

Helen Oro Designs

Hillberg & Berk

Hometown Diner

Hugo Alvarado - Artist

Hunter's Eastview Bowl

Huskie Athletics

Impact Marketing

Infinity Event Planning

Inland Audio Visual

Janella Hamilton

JB Performance Training

John Parry (Rosanna Parry)

Joi Photography

Joy Weave Co

Joyne

Just for You Day Spa/Lia Reese Canada

K+S Potash Canada

Karma Cafe & Conscious Eatery

Kayleigh Cole Designs

Kelly Block, MP Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar

King Me Gamery

KPMG

KR Jewelry

Lauren Ethridge - Artist

Lavish Blowout Bar

Lazer Autobody

LB Distillers

Lead Pilates

Lillian Denton

Limelight Limo

Lucky Little Shoes

M&M Meats

Mandy-Rae Mary Kay Consultant

Mar's Mini Golf

MASALA Model & Talent

Maximum Training

McFaull Consulting

Merle Norman Cosmetics

Michelle Friesen

Michelle Janzen Cakes

Michelle's Flowers

Midtown Plaza

MLT Aikins

Moksha Yoga

Move N Soar

Moxie's Grill and Bar

Naturally Amped

Ness Creek Cultural and Recreational Society

North Ridge Development Corporation

Nosh Eatery & Tap

Novo Esthetics

Om Improvements

Oneiro Designs

Orano Canada

Panago Pizza

Paramount Day Spa

Park Town Hotel

Patricia Katz

Paw Shots

Persephone Theatre

Persephone Theatre

PickNics Catering

Pivotal Point Massage

Pizza Hut (Concorde Food Services)

PR Accounting Services

Prairies North Magazine

Priaire Lilly

Rachael Meckling

Radisson Hotel Saskatoon

Ramada Plaza Regina

Rawlco Radio

Rayacom

Remai Modern

Revamp Salon Company

Riverbend Dental

Rock Paper Scissors Salon

Ryde YXE

Sandbox in the City

Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc.

Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival

Saskatoon Inn

Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

SaskPower Community Partnerships & Investment

SaskTel

SaskTel Centre

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan

Sharai Siemens Photography

Shearwater Cruises - The Prairie Lily

Shelley Novakoski

SheNative Goods

Sheraton Cavalier Hotel Saskatoon

SIGA - Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority

Social Made Local & T Squared SocialStan Garchinski

Strata Development

Summit Sports + Health

Sunset Gourmet

Sunshine Events Planner

Tarren Newhouse - Realty Executives

TCU Place

The Better Good

The Centre Mall

The Hollows

The Koda Dance Group & Tim Eashappie

The Mall at Lawson Heights

The Science of Makeup

The Sheraton

Three Farmers

Three Farmers

THRIVE Juice Co.

Tommy Gun's Original Barber

Trail Appliances

Travelodge Hotel Saskatoon

TreeOSix Adventure Parks

Tunnels of Moose Jaw

UNA Pizza

Uniglobe Travel

Urban Vogue Hair

Viahera Canada

WestJet

William Joseph Communications

Our event wouldn't have the same impact without the generous donations from organizations like this in our community. We are proud to be located in Saskatoon where the people are as kind as they are generous, and that we can spread this throughout our wonderful province. Thank you to these sponsors, The Princess Shop has helped 890 girls in our community, and this year we will surpass 1,000!

Special thanks to Janella Hamilton of CTV Saskatoon for emceeing the evening and to Tim Eashappie and The Koda Dance Group who put on a lively performance at the end of the evening! To our Keynote speakers Chantalle and Erica, you all spoke beautifully about your experiences and challenges and your stories touched our audience greatly, thank you for sharing them with us.

From our community of volunteers and Princesses past, present, and future..... from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU. Our community thrives because of your generosity.

Here are the cupcake entries, and we will announce the winner at the end of this post! Big shout out and thanks to Infinity Management for the amazing photos!

Caketopia Custom Cakes:

Caketopia Custom Cakes designed their cupcake off of a glitzy sequined dress and named their cupcake “The Gatsby”. This delectable cupcake was not only beautiful, but it was a caramel-filled cupcake with coconut buttercream, decorated with chocolate and caramel flavoured fondant – almost too pretty to eat!

The Foodiepharmbabe (or Get Baked with V on Facebook), chose a ruffly-skirt with blues and greens, so she named her cupcake “Caramel Truffle Under the Sea”! It was a decadent chocolate cupcake topped with caramel Swiss Meringue buttercream, white chocolate shards, sparkly pearls, and a caramel truffle hidden “under the sea” of buttercream.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodiepharmbabe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodiepharmbabe/

Miche's Niche:

Miche’s Niche went after a sparkly purple ball gown which inspired her creation. This cupcake was a refreshing vanilla cupcake with Saskatoon Berry and Lemon Cream Cheese filling. It was purple, sparkly, and delicious!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michesniche_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michesniche/

The Night Oven Bakery:

The Night Oven Bakery’s Jasmine chose her very own graduation dress, which now is donated to The Princess Shop. Calling it the “Candy Bar” cupcake, this fun cupcake was a chocolate candy bar cake, topped with Italian buttercream, M&Ms, and silver pearl candies!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenightoven/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenightoven/

Saskatoon’s Best Cupcake 2018:

After over 150 guests came, tasted all delicious cupcakes, then had to make the difficult decision which cupcake to vote for, the votes were in the favour of….

The Foodiepharmbabe! Venessa’s “Caramel Truffle Under the Sea” won over the crowd with its hidden surprise under the Swiss Meringue buttercream. We presented Venessa with a framed certificate, and pair of Sparkle Ball Earrings from Hillberg & Berk!

To the team at On-Purpose Events, thank you for putting on such a fantastic winter festival and bringing the community together! Thank you to Nutrien for sponsoring an important event that truly keeps our community warm and vibrant: Wintershines!

To each of our The Princess Shop volunteers who helped organize, setup and take down the event. Thank you to our Fundraising Coordinator, Bonnie Chen, for leading us through this event. Check out our Facebook page for the full album!

And lastly, but surely not least, to each of YOU in the community who came to sample, vote, and enjoy an evening of sweets for such a great cause. You are helping us bring graduation, scholarship/bursary, and mentorship experiences to more Saskatchewan women than ever before. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! All of !the proceeds from the event were given back to The Princess Shop!

Hi everyone! My name is Bonnie and I am the Fundraising Coordinator here at The Princess Shop. I am so excited to share with you what is coming up for The Princess Shop in these last few months of 2017!

To definition, a fundraiser is an event held to generate financial support for a charity or other enterprise. For The Princess Shop, fundraising means providing a way to ensure the sustainability of our three programs: The Dress Program, The Fairy Godmother Program, and The Next Chapter Program. Additionally, as volunteers, we are able to directly interact with Saskatoon’s community and many of the city’s incredible local companies through these events! To get a taste for how The Princess Shop is supported, here are some of the fundraisers we have coming up in the next couple of months:

Pay It Forward Fundraiser

The Princess Shop was lucky enough to be the chosen recipients of Pay It Forward Saskatoon’s annual fundraiser! Each year, this event is held to fundraise money for a local charity. It is an incredible event that includes many activities such as networking, entertainment, food, drink, and silent auction! As a bonus, the event will be Masquerade themed, so you are still able to have your Halloween fun!

The Princess Ryde is an ongoing fundraiser that will be held on the first Tuesday of every month from now until March.

Thanks to our friends at Ryde YXE Cycle Studio, you can now support The Princess Shop and go for an awesome workout at the same time! The best part is that the class is FREE with a cash donation, and every month will feature a new prize to be won if you attend the class!

Date: First Tuesday of every month until March. The next one is November 7th! Time: 8:15PMLocation:Ryde YXE, 705 Broadway Ave How to sign up: You can sign up for these classes ONE WEEK before the events.

Many thanks to Exquisite Fashions & Bridal for collaborating with The Princess Shop to hold a fashion show for all upcoming grads! This show will feature beautiful graduation gowns that are available for purchase at Exquisite Fashion & Bridal! Not only will you be able to see some beautiful dresses, you’ll also have the chance to win some incredible door prizes! Stay tuned for more information.

Date: November 19, 2017 Time: Doors open at 2pm, Show starts at 3pmLocation:Sutherland HallTickets: $10 advance tickets @ Exquisite, $15 at the door

"Thank you so much to everyone that helped me make this day truly special for me. When I first found out about the princess shop I never knew it was this amazing ! It was truly a day I will NEVER forget. I felt like a princess for sure and I got so many compliments on my make up hair and especially my gorgeous dress ! Thank you thank you thaaaaank you!" -Dacy, 2017 Princess Graduate

This June, we completed our 10th graduation season providing the Dress Program to 134 female-identified students graduating from school programs from 10 different communities across Saskatchewan.

Since the first graduation season in 2008, we have directly impacted the lives of 890 women on their graduation day! Some of these Princess Graduates have continued with our programs for mentorship (Fairy Godmother Program) and scholarships and skill development workshops (Next Chapter Program).

We would like to express our sincere thanks to our sponsors for supporting our 10th graduation season:

Since 2010, we have had 65 mentorship matches in the Fairy Godmother Program! Some of these matches that are in the program today have continued from as far back as 2010.

Through the Next Chapter Program, we have been able to award over $150,000 in scholarships and bursaries, thanks to the amazing sponsors we have had contributing to this program.

Most of our graduates are grade 12 students, however we honour requests from Grade 8s and post-secondary institutions. Our goal is to ensure that all female-identified students can attend their graduation ceremony and celebration stress-free, and then continue to pursue success in the next chapter!

It is more than a dress – everyone deserves the opportunity to recognize their accomplishments and participate fully in their graduation celebration. If you know anyone who would benefit from knowing about The Princess Shop (teacher, student or general supporter), please send them a link to our website!